Starting next year, parents taking parental leave can receive up to 2.5 million won per month... even elementary school parents can work reduced hours.

When I gave birth, I felt really self-conscious about taking maternity leave and parental leave;;;

It seems that the low birthrate issue is serious now.

I mentioned that from next year, the cost of cesarean sections will be free..

The benefits supported by the government are increasing.

If you take six days off, you can receive up to 2.5 million won per month.

It is said that the spouse's paternity leave will be extended from 10 days to 20 days.

For those who are applicable, I think it would be best to refer to this carefully and use it accordingly~

 

 

 

Starting next year, the salary received during parental leave will increase from a maximum of 1.5 million won to 2.5 million won, and 25% of the salary received six months after returning to work will also be paid throughout the leave period. As the revision of the Enforcement Decree of the Employment Insurance Act and other related laws passed the Cabinet meeting on the 17th, we have summarized the changes to the parental leave system from 2025 in a Q&A format.

 

Currently, the maximum monthly benefit is 1.5 million won, with a maximum of 18 million won received over a one-year parental leave. Starting from January next year, parents can receive up to 2.5 million won for 1 to 3 months of parental leave, 2 million won for 4 to 6 months, and 1.6 million won after 7 months. This amounts to a maximum of 23.1 million won annually. To support smooth reintegration after parental leave, the system has changed so that 25% of the salary is paid six months after return, instead of during the parental leave period, which previously paid 100% during the leave. Currently, the benefit limit for parents taking parental leave simultaneously or sequentially for children under 18 months has been expanded to 4.5 million won, allowing both parents to receive up to 59.2 million won in parental leave benefits if they both take leave.

That's correct. While it is not possible to retroactively apply the benefits for the three months used this year, starting from January 2025, the maximum benefit will be increased from 1.5 million won to 2 million won in the fourth month, and from April, the cap will be 1.6 million won in the seventh month. If you utilize the shortened working hours for childcare instead of parental leave until this year and take parental leave in the remaining period next year, you can receive 2.5 million won from the first month.

 

Starting next year, employees will be able to apply for parental leave along with maternity leave. Currently, when applying for parental leave, employers must generally grant it unless there are special circumstances. However, from next year, if an employee applies for parental leave, the employer is required to respond in writing within 14 days to indicate their intention to approve it. If the employer does not provide any explicit response, the employee can take parental leave at the time they applied.

 

To address these issues, the government has been providing a support fund of up to 800,000 won per month when small and medium-sized enterprises use parental leave or shorten working hours during childcare, by employing replacement workers. Starting next year, the limit will be increased to 1.2 million won, and the scope will be expanded to include parental leave. The government will also provide the same workload-sharing support fund during parental leave as it does when utilizing the shortened working hours for childcare.

 

Yes. It can be used for up to 1 year and 6 months, compared to the previous maximum of 1 year. However, this system will be applied starting from February 23, 2025, when the amended law takes effect. Even if parental leave has already been taken before that date, parents who have both taken parental leave for at least 3 months, single-parent families, or parents of children with severe disabilities can take an additional 6 months. However, when taking the additional 6 months, the child's age must be 8 years or younger, and the mother or father must have worked at the relevant company for at least 6 months.

Spouse paternity leave will be extended from 10 days to 20 days. Even if you have already used or are using the 10 days before, you can still benefit from the extended ten days. However, spouse paternity leave must be used within 90 days after childbirth, so if this period has passed, the benefit does not apply. The parental leave reduction system is also being extended from a maximum of 2 years to 3 years. Currently, this system is available only for parents with children up to 8 years old, who are in the second grade of elementary school, but starting February 23, it will be expanded to include children up to 12 years old, corresponding to sixth grade of elementary school. The prenatal and postnatal leave granted for premature births will be increased from 90 days to 100 days, and the miscarriage and stillbirth leave will be increased from 5 days to 10 days.

 

<Source: Hankyoreh>